Tre"ble (?), a. [OE. treble threefold, OF. treble, treible, L. triplus. See Triple.]
1.
Threefold; triple.
A lofty tower, and strong on every side
With treble walls.
Dryden.
2. Mus. (a)
Acute; sharp; as, a treble sound.
Bacon. (b)
Playing or singing the highest part or most acute sounds; playing or singing the treble; as, a treble violin or voice.
© Webster 1913.
Tre"ble, adv.
Trebly; triply.
[Obs.]
J. Fletcher.
© Webster 1913.
Tre"ble, n. [" It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [Lat.], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low)." Grove.] Mus.
The highest of the four principal parts in music; the part usually sung by boys or women; soprano.
⇒ This is sometimes called the first treble, to distinguish it from the second treble, or alto, which is sung by lower female voices.
© Webster 1913.
Tre"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trebled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Trebling.]
1.
To make thrice as much; to make threefold.
"Love
trebled life."
Tennyson.
2.
To utter in a treble key; to whine.
[Obs.]
He outrageously
(When I accused him) trebled his reply.
Chapman.
© Webster 1913.
Tre"ble, v. i.
To become threefold.
Swift.
© Webster 1913.